Daniel 'Real Deal' Geale explains why The Man won't be able to cope with the pressure he'll bring to the ring at the SEC

While most are suggesting Mundine's career is in decline, Tony has no doubts his son is a much-improved fighter from when he last met Geale in Brisbane.

"As a middleweight he's going to be dynamite," he declares.

"He's got power like he's never had before. He's got more experience. He's very fit and he's very fast.

"He will go another step higher on Wednesday night. I know he will."

Mundine Sr remains one of the greatest middleweights this country has produced.

He fought Argentina's legendary Carlos Monzon in Buenos Aires in the '70s, coming up just short.

His son has won big fights, too, but there has always been that shadow hanging over his achievements and the standard of his opponents.

Wednesday night is a defining fight for the Mundine name. It's a chance to claim the title that Tony couldn't quite get.

Anthony polarises opinion, he talks a good fight.

"The goal is to dominate him," Mundine said as rapid-fire as one of his jabs when we spoke late last week.

"I'm equipped to do 12 fast and furious rounds if I have to. But I'd rather stop him because I don't want to leave it in the judges' hands.

"I just want a fair shake. If it goes 12 rounds, whoever dominates should win."

In contrast, there's a quiet confidence coming from the man who knows him best.

This columnist, like many others, loathed Mundine for almost 20 years.

On Wednesday night I'll be sitting ringside cheering for him.

There's something I like about underdogs in sport.

Like his dad says - nothing beats proving the knockers wrong.

Destiny has arrived for both this man and his boy.

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New NRL CEO David Smith.Source: The Sunday Telegraph

FFA boss David Gallop has offered to help Dave Smith settle into his new job as NRL chief executive - a role Gallop held for a decade.

The pair met for the first time at an Australia Day sporting lunch on Friday afternoon.

They shook hands and spoke for several minutes.

"I told him I'm happy to catch up for a coffee any time," Gallop said.

"He comes across as a nice guy and I wish him well."

Gallop is obviously not missing his old gig at NRL headquarters and all the pressure and politicking that went with it.

He looked and felt miserable for several months after his sacking in June. But he has emerged at the A-League looking his fittest and happiest for years.

"I'm really enjoying the job," Gallop said. "The global nature of the game has been a huge eye-opener and the success of the A-League has shown there is enormous potential for growth."

It's shaping up as a huge year for his sport in Sydney.

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HIGHLIGHT

The news that Liverpool could be heading to Australia in July.

It’s amazing what David Gallop can achieve when he’s allowed to actually run a sport.

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LOWLIGHT

Our slowcoach Aussie batsman (outside of Dave Warner) at ANZ

Stadium on Saturday night. Some

of them treated it like a Test match.

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This is the last remaining evidence of Clive Palmer's old ownership of Gold Coast United in the A-League. Picture: Rothfield PhilSource: The Daily Telegraph

THAT'S A BIT RICH

This is the last remaining evidence of Clive Palmer’s old ownership of Gold Coast United in the A League - a few scarves that sit at the back of Rebel in Robina - reduced down to $5.

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PEARCE OFFERING

Laurie Daley has a number of big decisions to make before the Blues team is announced for the State of Origin series.

I know for a fact he’s a big fan of Roosters No 7 Mitch Pearce. I know he’s impressed that Pearce is more settled off the field.

I think he’s a certainty to retain the Blues halfback job, holding off an expected challenge from Adam Reynolds.

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MISMANAGEMENT

Player managers are still angry that Sonny Bill Williams’ contract with the Roosters was done by an agent with no accreditation, with as many as 40 of them baulking at paying the annual $1600 accreditation fee until they get a satisfactory explanation from the NRL.

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